A lifetime of memories

By Simon Forbes

FIVE years ago, the Lake Times wrote a story about Bob and Joan Simpson of Oak Flats, who at that time were celebrating their 6oth wedding anniversary a milestone event in anybodys language.

Well, here we are 5 years on, and Bob and Joan are still going strong and on January 31st celebrated 65 years together.

This momentous occasion was marked by a birthday card from the Queen, one from the Governor General, one from the Prime Minister, John Howard and one from the Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd.

Speaking to Bob and Joan about their lives together brings forth an endless stream of stories and life experiences, starting with their meeting on a blind date when bob was 17 and Joan was 15 years old.

They married 3 years later and the rest, as they say, is history. And what a history! They have a daughter who is 63 and a son who is 61. They have eight grandchildren, 17 great grand children and three (so far) great, great grandchildren thats quite a score card for two people who hail from Eden on the south coast and Balranald.

Bob and Joan still live the house in Oak Flats that Bob built back in 1949 as the first ever Owner/Builder through a Building Society. Back then, according to Bob, the block of land cost them 25 pounds. There were only two houses in the street and there were paddocks all the way to the station.

Amongst other things, Bob has been a licensed builder, a sheerline foreman at the steel works, an oyster lease owner in Batemans Bay, a professional photographer and an active member of the Light Rail Museum in Albion Park.

Their secret to 65 years of happiness? Never to go sleep on an argument, they say.

The most memorable moments of their 65 years together?

Without hesitation, the day our daughter was born and the day our son was born, they both said almost in unison.

The Lake times wishes you both a very happy 65th anniversary, with many more to come.